11/03/2013 EU Animal Testing Ban on Cosmetics

Today marks a huge day in history, as today the European Union has enforced the ban on the importation of animal tested cosmetics whereby new products and ingredients are no longer allowed to be sold in the EU. Hurrah!!

The implementation of the EU ban means that any company wishing to sell new products and ingredients within the EU must ensure that they have not been tested on animals anywhere in the world. From lipstick right across to toothpaste, all cosmetics and toiletries are covered.

The British Union for theAbolition of Vivisection (BUAV) are perhaps the most renowned body who have
brought this day upon us, it was founded in 1898 whereby ever since it has campaigned
to bring a stop to animal testing on cosmetics. Over the years improvements
have been made with the UK banning animal testing for cosmetics in 1998, just
one year after the implementation of my favourite logo in 1997; the leaping
bunny!

It wasn’t until 2004 when efforts started to pay off in the
EU when a ban was put into place on finished cosmetic products; a small step I
would say, but a step forward nether the less. The year of 2009 was much more
successful with the EU banning animal testing on cosmetics; however the
importation and sale of products which had been tested on animals were still
allowed at this time.

2012 saw the BUAV start Cruelty Free International which
is a campaign to stop and ban animal testing for cosmetics globally, currently
this is now the next step in preventing animal testing on cosmetics.

So here we are, 11/03/2013 whereby the EU has now banned new
products and ingredients which had been tested on animals outside of the EU, it has been a long time coming but I’m welcoming it! As
estimated by the EU Commission, predictions put forward estimate that up to 27,000 animals per year
could be saved now that the ban is in place.

The fight against animal testing is still not over though, as 80% of
countries still allow animal testing for the purpose of cosmetics. This is
really quite sad as 80% is a huge percentage, however the ban today really does
show how serious people are now taking this and hopefully it will be a sign to
other countries that animal testing for cosmetics is no longer warranted.